There is a watery glowing, a spirit shinning, just off the bank of the Pacacua River, just north of town - a crow's cry from the dusty and smoke stained concrete bridge above. A white light can be seen under the water, clear as night. Manuel has stayed away from the river all of his life. The sewer pipe monsters fight in his dreams and sicken his people daily. But now the toxic Pacacua is running a new line as the town folk wait for a blessed rain.

* * * * * * *

The bridge brought trucks and the trucks brought cattle. Men from San Jose grabbed the land and offered toxic fumes and trash as collateral. The Pacacua punches and refrains in a drooling death wish - congealed and choking without oxygen nor fish for eyes.

The glow point is getting stronger and is making its way up through the human stew and black agua-spiders, letting selected villages witness the white water light.

"This is the healing breathe of the apocalypco," nodded Manuel.
This is Costa Rica Nature washing her sacred skin.

* * * * * * *

Over the next three nights, the 15" round pipe water light slowly forms a high column - inch by inch - and eventually rises several feet in the air. Light + air + water from deep in the river's aquifer initiate the banks. This wondrous alchemic fountain sprays and sends its love out to all four directions and cleans the polluted Pacacua River and the two thousand hearts that love by it. Soon the gurgling stream quenches the land and the animals in the valley.

* * * * * * *

HA! Permaculture ideas then "bubble up" and groove a new, healthy path in the adjacent villages and roadside markets. Greywater systems (re-using clothes and dish water) and composite toilets donated and installed by the United Nations Environment Programme. The bad culvert clan is plugged for good.

Manuel and his family travel to other villages with their water beacon tale. Each community is a Hero!